In 1908, a star was added, representing Oklahoma, bringing the total number of stars on the U.S. flag to 46. There were thirteen stripes representing the thirteen original colonies.

1925-1941 Flag

image by Al Kirsch, based on image by Charlotte Zakharian Jones, 18 November 2005

In 1941 the name "OKLAHOMA" was added to the flag. Like Kansas and Illinois, that was a grave mistake since the Native American war shield on the Oklahoma flag is very distinctive and the name doesn't need to be spelled out. The flag was changed in the 1980's, this time only to change color specifications. For example, the crosses on the war shield are now dark brown instead of a lighter color. Nick Artimovich, 31 July 1996

Oklahoma State Statutes
25-91. The banner, or flag, of the design prescribed by Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 25, Third Legislature of the State of Oklahoma shall be, and it hereby is superseded and replaced by one of the following design, towit:

A sky blue field with a circular rawhide shield of an American Indian Warrior, decorated with six painted crosses on the face thereof, the lower half of the shield to be fringed with seven pendant eagle feathers and superimposed upon the face of the shield a calumet or peace pipe, crossed at right angles by an olive branch, as illustrated by the design accompanying this resolution, and underneath said shield or design in white letters shall be placed the word "Oklahoma", and the same is hereby adopted as the official flag and banner of the State of Oklahoma.

Joe McMillan, 19 February 2000

Oklahoma Statute Title 25 Section 91 was amended by a concurrent resolution specifying colors for the Oklahoma state flag; directing and providing for use of the designated colors; and directing distribution - adopted and approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate on June 14, 1988. This amendment standardized the colors in the flag. It is contained in the enrolled House Concurrent Resolution No. 1110:

Enrolled House Concurrent Resolution No. 1110

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION SPECIFYING COLORS FOR THE OKLAHOMA STATE FLAG; DIRECTING AND PROVIDING FOR USE OF THE DESIGNATED COLORS; AND DIRECTING DISTRIBUTION
WHEREAS, June 14, 1988, has been designates as Flag Day; and
WHEREAS, the Oklahoma State flag originally designed by Mrs. George Fluke, Jr. was approved by the 10th State Legislature and became the official emblem of Oklahoma on April 2, 1925; and
WHEREAS, the 18th State Legislature, in 1941, provided that the name of Oklahoma in white be added to the face of the flag; and
WHEREAS, the state flag is described in Section 91 of Title 25 of the Oklahoma Statutes as:
A sky blue field with a circular rawhide shield of an American Indian Warrior, decorated with six painted crosses on the face thereof, the lower half of the shield to be fringed with seven pendant eagle feathers and superimposed upon the face of the shield a calumet or peace pipe, crossed at right angles by an olive branch, and underneath said shield or design in white letters shall be placed the word "Oklahoma"; and
WHEREAS, the design of the flag was created by Mrs. Fluke, designated:
1. the Osage Indian Warrior's Shield to be of tan buckskin;
2. the background to be of a perfect blue;
3. the six small crosses on the shield and the thongs lacing the edge of the shield to be darker tan or brown;
4. the eagle feathers to be white tipped with very dark brown;
5. the bowl of the Calumet or Indian peace pipe to be red with pale ivory stem and decorated with a red tassel; and
6. the olive branch to be grey-green; and
WHEREAS, since the flag was originally approved, there have been major variations in the colors used for the flag depending on the manufacturer; and
WHEREAS, it is truly fitting that the Oklahoma flag uniting the ancient lore of the Indian and the white man and symbolizing the peace of a united people should be standardized in color as an example of the solidarity and patriotism of such people; and
WHEREAS, Oklahoma is entering into its 100th year and the cultural and historic integrity of the Oklahoma state flag as designed by Mrs. George Fluke, Jr., and subsequently approved by the Oklahoma Legislature should be preserved and maintained,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 2ND SESSION OF THE 41ST OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN:

THAT the Oklahoma state flag be standardized with the following colors:

THAT effective November 1, 1988, the Office of Public Affairs, any other agency of the state, or any political subdivision of the state specify the colors set forth in paragraph 1 when ordering an Oklahoma state flag.

THAT all persons who or companies which manufacture the Oklahoma state flag and in any manner design or portray the state flag be urged to use the colors specified in paragraph 1 in the manufacturing, designing or portraying of the flag.

THAT copies of this resolution be distributed to the Office of Public Affairs, each county in this state for further distribution to the purchasing officers in each municipality in the county, and to the administrative officer of each agency of this state.

Adopted by the House of Representatives the 14th day of June, 1988.
Adopted by the Senate the 14th day of June, 1988.

Proposal to Change the Flag

In "Tulsa World", 3 March 2009, Randy Krehbiel reports that Oklahoma State Representative Shane Jett (Republican) has tabled a bill for changing the Oklahoma State flag.
"[...]
Jett, as chairman of the House International Relations and Tourism Committee, introduced a bill this session to italicize the word "OKLAHOMA" on the state flag and put an exclamation point at the end. The bill also creates an official state abbreviation: OK!
[...]
Jett said his proposal originated with Oklahoma City advertising legend Ray Ackerman. His bill to make the flag changes has made it out of committee and awaits consideration on the House floor.
[...]"

The proposal was not warmly welcome, especially in Ponca City, the home of Luise Fluke, who designed the current flag.

The article has two colour images of the current flag and Jett's proposal: www.tulsaworld.comIvan Sache, 30 March 2009

See also the article in the Chicago Tribune about such flag changes: www.chicagotribune.comEugene Ipavec, 26 March 2009

State Seal

The emblem in the center of the flag is NOT the state seal. Oklahoma's state seal is a star with emblems of the American Indian tribes that were relocated to the territory before it was opened up to white settlement. The emblem on the flag, a crossed peace pipe and olive branch superimposed on an Indian war shield, is, once again, specific to the flag.Joe McMillan, 5 February 2001

State Military Crest

image by Joe McMillan, 21 April 2000

The state military crest, which is the crest used in the coats of arms of units of the National Guard, as granted by the precursor organizations of what is now the Army Institute of Heraldry. The official Institute of Heraldry blazon is
"An Indian's head with war bonnet all proper."Joe McMillan, 21 April 2000